Electrolytic alternating-current rectifier.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. A. S. HIGKLEY. ELECTROLYTIC ALTERNATING CURRENT REGTI PIER.

APPLICATION FILED .APB.16.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

nuanlfoz I .lrlfII-IHIIIHIIIIIH wi b1 asses No'. 861,282. Y

v PATENIED JULY 30, 1907. A. S. HICKLEY.

ELEGTROLYTIG ALTERNATING CURRENT RECTIFIER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED APB.16.1907.

2 SHBETMSHEBT 2.

2 i /f nuenloz UNITED STATES`l FATENT OFFER ARTEUR sHICKLEY, oF MANASQUAMNEW JERSEY.

ELEcriroLY'rro ALTERNATINGLCUBRENT REGTIFIEE.

invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Alternating-Current Rectifiers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable' others skilled in the art to wh'ich it appertailis to make and use Ithe same.

My invention relates primarily to' electrolytic cells, has especial reference to such cells which are used for transforming alternating currents 'into direct currents, electrolytic interrupters and the like, has for its object maintaininga low` degree of temperature of the 'elec-s trolyte and the electrodes, andaug'menting and increasing theefficiency of the electrolytic cell by con- ")ducting separate circuits of varying amper'age from A 'Y vacted upon by certain chemicals, such as phosphate of soda, carbonate of soda or lother chemical solution, and the other electrode which in thesame solution has a lm or hydroxid'formed upon it when the current is attempting to `pass from it to the non-active electrode,

(such an electrode so acted upon being preferably aluminium or some of its alloys) that after a short time the electrolyte becomes hot and only a limited amount 'of current can be passed from a given area oi aluminium,

and also that increasing the area does not overcome the difficulty, but rather causes greater loss in the conversion ofthe alternating to direct current.

I have discovered that if the non-oxidizable electrode is large enough and of theproper form, I can introduce more than one film forming electrode and connect them to separate storage batteries, coils or other apparatus and obtainv as much current from each and all of these separate electrodes, and I may use one circuit for the armature and another for the fields of a motor, and to charge storage batteries, produce light in lamps, and electroplate, all from the same rectifier, but from different electrodes inthe lsame electrolytic cell, at the same time by introducing resistances in the circuits to suit the different purposes.

The invention is not restricted in its'use to rectifers,

. as it is equally adapted to liquid resistances and the like.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specicati'onz-Figme 1 represents a vertical sec- '.fSpeciflcation of Letters Patent. Application led April 16,1907. Serial No. 368.464..

Patented Julyso, 1907.

' tion partly in side elevation, of an electrolytic cell rand ia hollow member attached thereto. Fig. 2 a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 a side elevationpartly in section, `showing several cells connected by hollow members and forming a compound electrolytic cell. Fig. 4` a plan view oirthe same. modified form of cell shown connected to a main wire, and Fig. 6 a like view of another modiiied form oicell.

`Reference being had to the drawings and the designating characters thereon, the numeral indicates a receptacle for containing a suitable electrolyte 2, and 'forms a hollow4 electrode, .on the outer surface of which are fins 3 exposed to the atmosphere for conducting eX- cessive or surplus heat from the electrolyte 'and the electrode and diifusing it inthe atmosphere. l

the form of rods in electrical contact with the interior Fig. 5 a vertical section of ai 70 4 indicates supplemental electrodes, which maybe in of the receptacle or electrode 1, as shown injFigs. 1 and I 2, or in the form of a sleeve or tube in electrical contact with the receptacle 1, aslshown in Figs. 3 and 4, and'5 indicates a separate electrode,preferably of aluminium. The receptacle or electrode 1 is provided with a'w-ire G .for connecting with one of the alternating culrentmain lines,'and the electrode 5 is provided `with a wire 12 which forms the-positive pole for supplying direct i 'or electrode 1 is made of iron, and the supplemental V electrodes 4 of carbon,' and the separate electrode 5, preierably of aluminium; it is obvious howevergthat the electrode Imay be made of aluminium, when the supplemental electrodes 4 are also aluminium, and the separate electrode', carbon, iron or other suitable material. -I l The electrolyte 2 is a chemical solution composed preferably of phosphate of ammonium, or otheruwell known solutions for the purpose.

13 indicates hollow members connected to the re ceptacle or electrode 1 by pipes 14\an`d 15, and to each other by pipes 16 and 17,v to provide for free circulation of the electrolyte through the receptacle and the hollow members,(which in their relation to the receptacle, or electrode 1, become extensions oi the electrode) for the purpose o reducing the temperature of the elec'- trolyte in circulation, and the temperature o the electrodes, by the exposed surface of `the hollow members, (Whose combined area is in excess of the area of the receptacle 1.) This exposure of the electrolyte in circulation through the h ollew'members 13 maintains the temperature of the electrolyte and the electrodes at siich a degree that the eliciency of the cell is maintained at its maximum capacity.

In Figs. v3 and 4, a compound electrolytic cell is shown, by using more than one of the receptaclesor electrodes 1 and connecting them together by the holss l los

low members 13, of which there may be any desired or preferred number, thus greatly augmenting the capacity of the cell and correspondingly increasing its eHiciency and power. In this form of the device one receptacle or electrode 1 is connected to one of the main lines 18 4by wire 6, and the separate electrode 5 is connected through the variable resistance 20 and the storage battery 2l to the other main line 19. The electrode 5 is connected through the like resistance 22 and storage battery 23 to the saine main line 19, and the electrode 5/ is connected through resistance 24 and storage battery 25 to line 19.

The direct current passing through the variable resistauces 20, 22 and 24, may be conducted to motors,

induction coils, plating baths, or other apparatus requiring direct current. l i

The hollow members 13 may be open at the top, as shown at 26 in Fig. 2 and can be used as supplemental cells by providing them with separate electrodes, as 5, shown in the receptacle l.

The receptacles 1 connected to provide for circulation of the electrolyte through the receptacles constitute a continuous or compound electrolytic cell, and two or more separate electrodes 5 may be placed in either oi the receptacles and connected through variable resistances and storage batteries to the main wire 19 lor supplying direct current to separate motors, induction coils and other apparatus. 4 A single receptacle or electrolytic cell composed oi materia-l that is not acted upon by the electrolyte, and provided with a plurality of separate electrodes acted upon when the electrical current is passing, may be connected in like manner to the main line 19 ior the same purpose, `or a single receptacle forming a hollow electrode and provided with a plurality of separate electrodes may be used.

In Fig. l5 I have illustrated the iormer type of receptacle 27, made of porcelain, glass or other non-conductor of electricity, and provided with an electrode 28 of iron, carbon or other like material, connected to one of the main lines 18 by wire G and separate' electrodes 29, 2.9/ preferably of aluminium, are connected through variable resistances 30, 30/ and storage batteries 31, 31/ to the other main line 19. I

In Fig. G, the receptacle 32 is made of iron or other conductor of electricity and forms a hollow electrode to which the wire 6 is connected, and the separate electrodes 29, 29 are connected to the main line 19, in like manner as in Fig. 5, and the several parts areindicated by like reierence characters. l

It`is obvious that changes in the form of the receptacles and the hollow members, and in the connections of said members with the receptacles may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. Inanlelectrolytic cell, the combination with a recep-v tacle for containing an electrolyte and forming a hollow electrode, a supplemental electrode within and in electrical contact with said hollow electrode, and a hollow member connected to the hollen electrode.

2. In an eleetrolytic cell, the combination with a receptacle for containing an electrolyte and forming a hollow electrode, and provided with radiating surfaces projecting from the body thereof, a supplemental electrode within and in electrical contact with said hollow electrode, and a hollow member connected to the hollow electrode.

A compound electrolytic cell composed of receptacles forming hollow electrodes connected together to allow the electrolyte to circulate through the electrodes.

l. A compound electrolytic cell composed of receptacles forming hollow electrodes, and hollow members connected to and interposed between the receptacles to allow thc electrolyte to circulate through the electrodes.

5. A compound electrolytic cell composed ot' a plurality of receptacles forming hollow electrodes, and hollow meinhers connected to and interposed between adjacent receptacles to allow the electrolyte to circulate through the electrodes. y

An electrolytic rcctifying cell provided with an. inert electrode and a plurality of separate electrically active electrodes. in combination with an electric main line, and separate electrical connections, each connection includingr an electrical device between each of said separate electrodes and said main line, for utilizing separate currents from the several electrodes in the cell.

7. An electrolytic rectifying cell provided with an inert electrode and a plurality of separate electrically active electrodes, in combination with an electric main line, and separate electrical connections, each connection including,r a resistance and an electrical device between cach of said separate electrodes and said main line, for utilizing separate currents of varying amperag'e from the several separate electrodes in the cell.

S. A compound electrolytic cell composed of receptacles formingT hollow electrodes connected together to allow thc electrolyte to circulate through the electrodes, in combination with electric main lines, and separate electrical counections between the electrodes and said lines.

In testimony whereof I alllx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR S. HICKLEY.

Witnesses D. C. REINoHL, W. PARKER RurNoHL. 

